Harry reveals Palacios tragedy

10 May 2009 11:34

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp admitted that Saturday's goalless draw with Everton had been overshadowed by a family tragedy involving Wilson Palacios.
The Honduras midfielder missed the game at Goodison Park after being granted compassionate leave following the apparent death of his teenage brother, who had been kidnapped in 2007 and subsequently held to ransom.
"The lad had heard from his family at about one in the morning what had happened and his brothers I believe have identified the body," revealed Redknapp at full-time.
"But he sat around the hotel lobby with his case packed until 7am because he didn't want to wake me.
"I'm amazed with him but we organised for him to be driven back to London so he could get a flight home.
"Things like that bring everything into focus. I believe the boy had been kidnapped and a ransom had been paid but he had not been released.
"Football is not really that important after this."
Spurs' off-field problems continued in the early hours of Sunday morning when Ledley King was reportedly arrested over an alleged assault outside a London nightclub.